THE PLIGHT OF WOMEN IN MEDIA
NEW STUDY HIGHLIGHTS SEXUAL HARASSMENTS OF WOMEN JOURNALISTS IN FIJI
The University of the South Pacific (USP) and the University of Vienna are behind a new study on the sexual harassment of women journalists in Fiji.
They have the hope that their work can increase the visibility of the issue and encourage stronger preventative action. Funded by the Fiji Women’s Rights Movement (FWRM), the research uncovered the widespread sexual harassment against female journalists in Fiji.
The study, titled, ‘You Feel Like You Don’t Have the Freedom to Do Your Work. Exploring Fijian Women Journalists’ Experiences of Sexual Harassment,’ was authored by Professor Folker Hanusch (University of Vienna), Associate Professor Shailendra Singh (USP), Birte Leonhardta (University of Vienna) and Geraldine Panapasa (USP).
The paper was published in a topranked international journal, Journalism Practice, with surveys and interviews with 42 respondents that included former and current women journalists. It found that sexual harassment was “staggeringly common.” More than eight in 10 (83.3 per cent) said they had been sexually harassed at their workplaces with 59.5 per cent saying it occurred more than once, the study revealed. Almost three in five respondents said they faced sexual harassment on work assignments, largely at the hands of businesspeople, politicians, and sportsmen.
The most common form of sexual harassment in the workplace was of a verbal nature but there were also instances of physical and gestural sexual harassments.
Associate professor and head of journalism at USP in Suva, Dr Singh, said the research aimed to see if a problem existed, and if so, how it could be addressed.
He said before a problem could be addressed, it needed to be identified and acknowledged. Dr Singh said the research was not about pointing fingers or apportioning blame, but creating awareness and taking corrective measures based on the findings. He said one of the problems was the lack of awareness about what constituted sexual harassment, both on the part of the victims and the perpetrators, when it came to oral or verbal sexual harassment. There was no physical contact, and it was usually seen as ‘light-hearted joking’, according to one of the respondents.
The research indicates that oral sexual harassment is neither harmless nor acceptable.
It also shows that female journalists are vulnerable while out reporting, which underscores the need for media organisations to take the necessary safety precautions.
The report said sexual harassment negatively impacts journalists’ ability to conduct their work, in that female journalists are demoralised and intimidated. Some ended up selfcensoring their reporting, not covering certain topics anymore, or leaving their jobs and the profession entirely. Dr Singh said that it was a serious issue given the importance of journalism in a country.
“The health of female journalists isn’t only important for media organisations and the journalists themselves, but for the country as a whole because we rely on them for information.
“We use the information provided by journalists to make important decisions, such as how to vote in elections. So, it’s important for our journalists to be in the best shape, mentally and physically. It is a national issue.
“Our goal is to help our journalists and make the work environment safer by highlighting the problem, which can only be addressed if there is more awareness about it and measures are put in place to address the situation and people improve their behaviours.”
Former journalist and USP journalism tutor, Ms Panapasa, said: “It’s about time” women journalists spoke out.
The courage of many of her colleagues in the industry who shared very personal details about their lives and experiences, stood out.
“Many had never been given the proper support to deal with these experiences and kept it buried while pushing on with their passion for journalism,” she told Fiji Sun. “Others shared that opening up about their experiences gave them the necessary closure. I take my hat off to women in journalism who continue to push through these challenges in the workplace, challenges and obstacles that continue to impede women’s empowerment, and their active engagement and participation in the labour force.”
She said the findings, together with ongoing work, should hopefully make inform decision-making and action aimed at preventing sexual harassment of women in the workplace.
Gender-based discrimination
FWRM executive director Nalini Singh said women deserved “equal participation in the world of work”, that was free from violence and harassment.
The women’s rights group sponsored several research studies over the years that highlighted the prevalence of “gender-based discrimination” against women in the workplace and the need to tackle it. Besides the sexual harassment of female journalists study, the FWRM commissioned two other major studies in 2002 and 2016. “In 2002, our research found that one in three women were being sexually harassed in the workplace,” Ms Singh said.
“In 2016, a follow-up study was conducted and one in five Fijian women were found to have been sexually harassed in the workplace.”
She said there needed to be a stronger commitment towards addressing the problem.
Positive outcomes
FWRM has been doing its part, investing in awareness campaigns to take its research far and wide, through infographic posters and pocket pamphlets with the findings from the 2016 research and other relevant resources.
“These posters were distributed by our team to hotels around Viti Levu in 2017, as one of our main findings was that the incidence of sexual harassment was extremely high in the hospitality and tourism sector,” Ms Singh said.
“Our campaign on improving the state of decent work for women which included eliminating sexual harassment in the workplace was also undertaken on our online platforms. This continues to be part of our ongoing work.”
She acknowledged the Government for improving employment relations legislation concerning sexual harassment policy in the workplace and ratifying the Convention on Violence and Harassment 2019.
Since the sexual harassment of female journalists study, a group dedicated to empowering women in Fiji’s media sector was founded.
Women in Media
Women in Media Fiji (WiM Fiji) co-founder and Fiji Sun acting publisher/chief executive officer Rosi Doviverata said: “While WiM Fiji hasn’t received reports of such incidents since its establishment, senior members acknowledge the possibility based on experience.
“By encouraging open discussion, we aim to enhance our capacity to address and support members affected by such issues. Plans include establishing referral pathways and collaborating with mainstream media organisations through the Fijian Media Association.”
She said WiM Fiji was engaged in a two-year project, “Power Up,” with The Asia Foundation, Pacific Islands News Association (PINA), and femLINKpacific, focusing on strengthening women’s coalitions to combat gender-based violence and supporting women leaders and activists in Southeast Asia and the Pacific.